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History

Virtual Yearbooks: Pre-1940s

This information is arranged by year and includes MSM historical and other highlights of New York City’s music history.

1913

Janet Daniels, a young musician and graduate of the New York School of Social Work, begins teaching music at the Union Settlement on East 104th Street in Manhattan.

1917

Due to the events of World War I, the Union Settlement notifies Janet Daniels Schenck that they can no longer support the Music School financially. She establishes an independent Board which keeps the School going. She is director from 1918–1956.

1918

One of the oldest surviving items from the School’s history, showing ledger entries for receipts and disbursements from January/February 1918, when Manhattan School of Music was still known as the Union Settlement Music School.

In March, Harold Bauer and Pablo Casals become the founding members of the artist auxiliary board.

A budget of $3,000 for 1918–1919 is approved by the new Board of Trustees.

There are 120 students, representing 10 nationalities, and a faculty of 23. The fee charged is 50 cents a lesson or 25 cents with two in a class.

Other Highlights of New York City Musical History:

Louis (Leonard) Bernstein is born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on August 25.

Sergei Rachmaninoff moves to New York.

Rosa Ponselle makes Metropolitan Opera debut in La forza del destino.

The Harlem Hellfighters, James Reese Europe’s 369th Regiment band, with Rafael Hernandez (who will become known as Puerto Rico’s greatest composer) and 17 other Puerto Rican soldiers, records 21 songs and is the first group to play ragtime and jazz in Europe.

1919

The first District Music Service begins, currently known as community outreach, with concerts given at various divisions of Ellis Island, including the tuberculosis and psychopathic wards. Surgical and shell-shock hospitals are visited weekly.

1921

In October 1921, the Board of Trustees purchases a building from the Jewish Guild for the Blind, giving the Neighborhood Music School its first real home, at 238 East 105th Street. The building would later be replaced by larger facilities at the same address as surrounding properties became available, and the name would be changed to Manhattan School of Music.

1927

Philanthropist Mrs. John Hubbard offers to gift the School a modern new building under three conditions: that the $23,000 mortgage on the old property be paid off; that yearly guarantees amounting to a total of $100,000 be raised to cover the next ten years; and that an Endowment Fund be started.

Other Highlights of New York City Musical History:

The Jazz Singer starring Al Jolson, produced by Darryl F. Zanuck, is first sound movie released.

Radio City Music Hall opens, housing the largest organ built by Rudolf Wurlitzer, with Morton Gould, 19, as staff pianist.

1933

“Our District Music Service (begun at the School after WWI) had made us aware of endless possibilities in the field of creating audiences as well as training our young people in the field of performance. In 1933 we started weekly concerts at the Museum of the City of New York where we still regularly send musicians for recitals and chamber music concerts.” (from Janet Schenck’s “Adventure in Music”)

In December, representatives from twenty organizations met at the school and discussed ways in which music could be used, still more effectively, in their own centers (concerts, musical programs, and talks on music).

Other Highlights of New York City Musical History:

Ruth Crawford Seeger’s String Quartet premiered by New World String Quartet at the New School for Social Research.

Lena Horne, 16, debuts at the Cotton Club.

Duke Ellington’s “Sophisticated Lady” and Rodgers and Hart’s “I Gotta Get Back to New York” written.

1934

There are 403 students representing 25 nationalities.

As part of the School’s District Music Service, 88 programs of music in 29 different centers are given between February 27 and June 5: 37 programs in educational organizations, 31 in social centers, 15 in health centers, and 5 in churches.

Other Highlights of New York City Musical History:

Arnold Schoenberg moves to NYC to teach at Malkin Conservatory (stays at the Ansonia Hotel, Broadway and 73rd Street).

Antonia Brico appointed conductor of the Women’s Symphony Orchestra of New York.

Anything Goes by Cole Porter opens with songs including “I Get a Kick Out of You” and “You’re the Top” at the Alvin Theater (420 performances).

Glenn Miller joins the Dorsey Brother’s Orchestra and debuts at the Rainbow Room.

1935

“District Music Service” (community outreach) includes 32 concerts at 15 different agencies; 23 additional agencies are reached regularly through concerts, designed especially for the community, and given at the School.

There are 435 students representing 21 nationalities in attendance: 25% are under 12 years of age, 36% between 12 and 18, and 39% over 18 years old (61% under 18 and 39% over 18 years of age).

Other Highlights of New York City Musical History:

Benny Goodman hires pianist Teddy Wilson for his trio, breaking the racial color line in jazz.

Max Gordon opens the Village Vanguard jazz club on Seventh Avenue.

Porgy and Bess by George and Ira Gershwin premieres at the Alvin Theater.

Antonia Brico becomes first woman to conduct the New York Philharmonic.

John Corigliano (MSM alumnus) born in NYC, February 16.

1939

The new Hubbard Auditorium and additional rooms added to the building are completed.

A December performance by the Metropolitan Opera benefited Manhattan School of Music. The production was Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, with Eric Leinsdorf conducting a cast that included Lauritz Melchior and Kirsten Flagstad.

Other Highlights of New York City Musical History:

Blue Note Records founded by German-born Alfred Lion and Francis Wolff, who have come to NYC to escape Nazi persecution.